Rabies symptoms

Written by Han Jian Hua

Infectious Disease

Updated on September 04, 2024

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Rabies is mainly characterized by hydrophobia, fear of wind, pharyngeal muscle spasms, progressive paralysis, etc. It is divided into: the prodromal phase, the excitative phase, and the paralytic phase, with varying symptoms in each phase.

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Written by Xiong Hong Hai

Infectious Disease

32sec

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Can rabies be inherited?

Rabies is an infectious disease, not a hereditary disease, and there is no possibility of it being inherited. It is mainly caused by being bitten by dogs, cats, or bats carrying the rabies virus. If timely treatment and intervention are not administered after being bitten by these animals, there is a chance of contracting the rabies virus. The rabies virus attacks the human nervous system and eventually proliferates extensively in the brain, leading to the exhaustion of brain functions and resulting in death.

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Written by Xiong Hong Hai

Infectious Disease

37sec

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What are the symptoms of rabies?

The symptoms of rabies can include fever, general discomfort, muscle soreness, fatigue, and headaches, which are typical preclinical symptoms. Subsequently, numbness, pain, and itching at the site of the bite may occur. This is followed by a series of related neurological symptoms, such as hydrophobia and aerophobia, where even the sight or mention of water can trigger involuntary spasms in the throat muscles and difficulty swallowing. There is also extreme sensitivity and fear of bright lights and noises, agitation, eventually leading to coma and death.

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Written by Xiong Hong Hai

Infectious Disease

30sec

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Can rabies be cured?

Rabies cannot be cured, and once infected and symptomatic, it is 100% fatal with no existing therapeutic strategies. Treatment only involves symptomatic care to alleviate some symptoms of patients but does not improve prognosis; generally, death occurs. Therefore, prevention of rabies is crucial. If exposed to potentially rabid dog or cat bites, it is essential to promptly administer rabies vaccine, and sometimes, it is necessary to concurrently inject rabies immunoglobulin.

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Written by Xiong Hong Hai

Infectious Disease

34sec

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Is rabies contagious?

Rabies is contagious; in fact, most cases of rabies result from being bitten by rabid dogs, cats showing symptoms of the disease, or bats carrying the rabies virus. There have been no reports of transmission from human to human. Rabies is a fatal disease, with a 100% mortality rate once infected. The saliva of dogs showing symptoms contains a high concentration of the virus. If one is bitten and does not receive timely prevention and intervention, there is a high likelihood of contracting the infection.

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Written by Han Jian Hua

Infectious Disease

20sec

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Rabies symptoms

Rabies is mainly characterized by hydrophobia, fear of wind, pharyngeal muscle spasms, progressive paralysis, etc. It is divided into: the prodromal phase, the excitative phase, and the paralytic phase, with varying symptoms in each phase.